For many years, H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang had been considering establishing retreat centers in the West, as meditation in Himalaya regions has become increasingly difficult due to the political situation.

In 2000, this wish took concrete form, and H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang spoke for the first time with the German sangha in Hamburg about his vision of bringing the three sacred mountains, Lapchi, Tsari and Kailash, to the West.

In 2002, H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang visited Europe. Together with a few members of the Hamburg sangha, he searched for suitable locations in eastern Germany, particularly in the surrounding areas of Berlin. Because the right object was not found right away, the project was suspended.

In 2007, Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang visited the stupa in Hungary. In accordance with His Holiness’ vision, this site was correlated to the sacred mountain Lapchi. The search for Mount Kailash in Europe continued.

Finally, in 2008, the time came. A riding school that was up for sale was found in Schneverdingen. In the same year, H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang and H.E. Garchen Rinpoche visited the site in Schneverdingen and confirmed that the sacred Mount Kailash had been found in Europe. In 2009, the Garchen Foundation acquired the property and the sacred Mount Kailash came to Schneverdingen.

In 2011, H. H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang and the Venerable Khenchen Könchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche celebrated an Earth Blessing Ceremony together with the sangha. On 27 October 2012, the Milarepa Retreat Centre was formally inaugurated by H.E. Garchen Rinpoche.

Unfortunately due to his fragile health, it was not possible for H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang to take part in the opening of the center. The hand-over of the keys was therefore symbolically held in Dehradun in January 2013. H.H. visited the center in 2014; as part of an extensive Dharma program (Chakrasambhava empowerment, and Great Drikung Bodhicitta Transmission), the Retreat Temple was then blessed in the secluded retreat area and transferred to his direction.

In December 2014 His Holiness inaugurated the first traditional Three Year Retreat in the MRC with an empowerment in the Five-Fold Path of Mahamudra.